Godinez

With the road between Panajachel and San Antonio Palopó still closed in Santa Catarina (it was open for a few days for the Santa Catarina town fair) I regularly pass by Godinez, a town on the road between Agua Escondida and Panajachel. I figured it was worth adding a bit of info about it.

This photo is looking one way down the main street. There are a couple of one-block sidestreets but that’s about it.

The second photo is looking the other way. At this point you may be wondering why you might care. So, let me explain that.

First, the shortest way from Guatemala City to here is through Godinez. Not main roads but it works. Pretty much go from Guatemala City to Patzun, continue to Godinez, head to Agua Escondida and then down the dirt road to here. Patzun is a pretty big town with a big Sunday market that seems to go way beyond food. But, if you are heading there, I recommend you take the bus — unless you like to get lost.

There are some other reasons to go to Godinez:

It has about half a dozen panadrrías (bread bakeries) maybe four reposterías (cake bakeries). (Haven’t tried anything but clearly there are choices.)

A “comercio” where you can buy household appliances. (No relation to our own Rocío but it got us thinking maybe she would spell her name Rozío just be be different.)

On at least Sundays (that is, I know it exists on Sundays but possibly another day as well) a public market. Not huge but some decent food choices including bell peppers and broccoli plus a few “thing” stands with combs, eye glasses, nail clippers and such.

Is that enough? Well, if not, how about ceviche? The blue comedor sign is related but you just enter the black porton and there are three tables inside. Outside the back door there is a little prep area before a grass yard.

Was it good? Well, it could be. It was more like a ceviche kit. This is the Q20 size which is big. Other options were Q10 and Q15.

In the dish are two pieces of lime, some salt and a bag of kechup. There are also two packages of crackers. Not shown is a bottle of brown liquid — probably salsa iglesa — and a dish of chili.

I played with the ingredients until I had a ceviche that tasted like what I wanted. What was missing was something to drink. Like most ceviche places they had stuff (sodas) but didn’t even try to sell you one.

So, I walked down the street to a tienda and was looking in the cooler. No beer. I asked. It was in a refrigerator behind the counter. He offered me a Gallo. I asked “hay algo sin sabor de orine de gallo” and he handed me a Corona. Not great but a step up.

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2 thoughts on “Godinez”

OK, this is amazing…. there is one pickup driving and a couple tuk tuks, but in every photo, even on the main drag, you have not captured a SINGLE PERSON in the entire town! Which means it appears to be the perfect place to go! UNCROWDED!! I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS in Central America! Usually tons of kids, dogs, peeps scurrying around!